Vadodara: The detection of crime branch (DCB) on Sunday arrested three men who helped people make forged income certificates to get benefits of Mukhyamantri Amrutam Vatsalya (MAV) scheme. The mastermind of the racket is on the run.
Those arrested were Manoj Kumar Soni, a resident of Panigate Road, Naresh Dalwadi of Fatehpura and Jitendra Chawda, who lives on New Sama Road. “They used to help people in getting forged income certificates and charge anywhere between Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per certificate,” said Jaydeepsinh Jadeja, DCP (crime).
Jadeja said the name of a man identified as Praveen Rabari has surfaced during the investigations. He used to make the certificates and give them to people through these agents. “Rabari is on the run,” Jadeja told TOI. The crime branch had on Saturday booked seven middlemen for forging income certificates of 35 persons to help them get benefits under MAV scheme.
The scam came to light when the district project coordinator of the health department, Chiraj Patel, visited the Sudamapuri urban health centre on Ajwa Road and found income certificates of 35 beneficiaries were forged, while going through the records.
On verifying with the deputy executive magistrate, it was confirmed that the certificates were fakes and not issued by any government authority. The 35 persons received benefits based on the fake certificates. MAV scheme that offers insurance cover for medical treatment to low-income group category.